Shipping containers for television tubes



Sept 17, 1957 R. A. MULLER ETAL SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3. 1954 7PM 7e,

INVENTOR' PMMM@ ATTORNEY Sept 17, 1957 R. A. MULLER ETAL 2,806,594

SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5. 1954 WHW A 50 as l I I Cai/e g I l E? l/2 8 27 \4 INVENToR 4 Www/bww ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1957 R. A. MULLER ET AL 2,806,594

SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES Filed Nov. 5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L n Ei l` il Q INVENToR.

izl Q BY X37/7mm a: d ES 'el "tui" ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1957 l RYA. MULLER ErAL 2,805,594

\ SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR TELEVISION TUBES Filed Nov. 5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l :HI/92 l \r I l L V 90 FIG. 9

` INVENTORIS /RMQ-M BY 7M KD7/ampia ATTORNEY New London, N. H., and Rodney P.

Mass., assigner-s to Atlas Ply- Mass., a corporation of Robert A.. Muller,

Maclhie, West Newton, Wood Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts Aspiranten Navman s, i954, senat Ns. 466,544 2 tClaims. (Cl. 2Go- 65) This invention relates to an improved packing case construction and, more particularly, to an improved collapsible plywood container construction for reusably packaging relatively large bulbs and tubes of the -glass and glass and metal envelope type employed in television cathode ray tubes. For purposes of convenience, the term bulb, as employed throughout the specification, is intended to include enclosures of glass or other materials, either with or without electronic elements.

I n connection with the manufacture and shipping of television bulbs, it is necessary to subject the bulbs to various handling operations in the course of which breakage may occur. Due to the fact that these tubes are formed with a relatively large dome-shaped bulb portion which terminates in a relatively long tubular neck portion, it is especially diicult to package and hold a plurality of these television bulbs so that they may be eiiiciently handled and transported without danger of being broken.

It is an object of the present invention to deal with the problem indicated and to devise a collapsible type packing case construction for reusably packaging television bulbs and tubes in units of some desired number, such as, a ten-tube pack, a twenty-tube pack, and the like. Another object of the invention is to devise a packing case construction in which means are provided for specially supporting the irregularly shaped bulb portions of the tubes with the neck portions of some of the tubes arranged in opposed spaced-apart relationship with respect to neck portions of other tubes in a given unit. Still another object of the invention is Vto include in a structure of the general class indicated cushioning means so constructed and arranged within the component parts of the box as to protect the fragile body portions of the television bulb elements during rough handling in the course of shipping operations. It is still another object of the invention to devise a knock down type of container assembly characterized by a hinged tubular body portion of plywood which is conveniently assembled with television tubes arranged in shipping position and which may just as conveniently be removed without impairing any of the component parts of the container to the end that the container may be reused for subsqeuent containing and shipping purposes a large number of times.

The nature of the invention and its further objects will be more fully understood and `appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating a pallet base employed in the packing case construction of the invention;

Fig. 2 is another View in perspective showing a number of bulb containers and bulbs mounted on the pallet base in spaced relationship;

Fig. 3 is a view-similar to Fig. 2 but further illustrating a center spacing panel for engaging about respective bulb portions of the television tubes;

Patented Sept. 17, 1957 vle Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 further illustrating additional television bulbs mounted through the center spacing panel with the neck portions located in opposed relationship with respect to those television bulbs which are mounted on the pallet base and with the bulb portions of these latter elements having been shielded by means of additional carton or container members as shown.

Fig. 5 is a View corresponding to Fig. 4 but further illustrating a collapsible rectangular tubular body portion for the packing case partially installed in place and surrounding the television bulb members described;

Fig. 6 is another View of the container assembly shown in Fig. 5 but further indicating the rectangular tubular body portion fully assembled on the pallet base and supporting a partly raised closure or cover member ready to be fitted within the collapsible body portion;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view further illustrating relative position of tube parts with respect to the center spacing panel and respective top and bottom cooperating closure sides of the container;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the container collapsed and ready to ship; and

Fig. 9 is a Vertical `cross-sectional of a modied type of packing case for use as a twenty-tube pack.

The improved container of the invention is designed primarily to be manufactured and sold asa knock down container unit. The several container components for one type of packing case and their method of assembly have been illustrated somewhat in detail in Figs. 1 6, inclusive. Fig. Sillustrates the various 'components knocked down and secured as a single container assembly. Fig. 7 shows a modified type of container which includes means for packaging upper and lower tiers of bulbs to thus provide greater carrying capacity.

The principal parts of our improved container include a collapsible tubular body portion; top and bottom closure members; a center spacing panel and a number of collapsible protective bulb enclosures which, in an opened state in conjunction with the center panel, define a series of special bulb cushioning compartments.

In the structure shown in the drawings, Fig. l indicates one of the closure members referred to above consisting of a pallet type base which is generally denoted by the arrow P. This base includes bottom frame pieces as 2, 4 `and 6, preferably constructed of wood, although other suitable base materials may be employed. On these frame pieces is solidly secured by nailing, staples orV other type fastenings, a base panel 8 for which we prefer to employ a material such as plywood, although we do not limit ourselves to this material. Base panel 8 is formed on four sides with a rabbeted edge 10. l

Between two opposite edges of the base panel 8 are solidly `secured spacing cleats 12 and 14 formed with notched surfaces 16, 18, 2,0 and 22. These two cleats are so spaced on the base panel that they dene three base areas, each of which are substantially the same size.

In accordance with the invention, we mount on the base panel described and in abutting relation with respect to the cleats a plurality of protective bulb enclosures 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 which are chosen of a width such that they just lill the space between the cleats and the rabbeted edge 10, and of a length such that two of the enclosures will just lill in the space between the remaining Itwo sides of the rabbeted edge 10, as has been illustrated in Fig. 2. Y

These bulb enclosures are constructed of iiberboard or other suitable material capable of providing a limited amount of cushioning effect and subject to limited deformation by crush, and the enclosures are of the collapsi- Y ble type having four side wall portions and a bottomV with suitable fold lines for allowing the constituent portions to be folded into flattened position, such as has been suggested in Fig. 8.

Within these bulb enclosures described, we place a plurality of television bulbs 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, as illustrated in-Fig. 2. The height of the bulb enclosures is, in each case, chosen such that neck portions of the bulbs extend well above the top edges ofthe enclosures, as shown.

In order to maintain each of these bulbs and respective bulb enclosures in a fixed position, We have further devised a rigid center spacing panel 36 which is formed with openings 37 through which the neck portions of the bulbs are allowed to project in the mannershown in Fig. 3. This panel 36, it is pointed out, bears against the respective bulb portions and, since the bottoms of the bulbs are resting on their respective enclosures, each bulb is held firmly against lateral displacement.

We additionally provide, to give even greater protection if desired, cushioning pieces 30a, 31a, 33a, 34a, and 35a which are preferably constructed of a soft rubber consisting of annularly shaped sections of channel form adapted to engage around those edge portions of the center spacing panel 36 which define the openings 37. These cushioning pieces thus lie between the spacing panel 36 and the bulb members shown in Fig. 3 to absorb shocks resulting from rough handling in transit.

The over-all dimensions of this center panel 36 are, moreover, carefully chosen so that they correspond to the dimensions of the base panel area included Within the rabbeted edge 10. We prefer to employ plywood for this center panel member, although other materials may be used. It will be observed that the openings 37 are carefully chosen in number, size and spacing so as to coincide with the number and location of the bulbs and so as to cause the spacing panel to assume a raised position with respect to the edges of the bulb enclosures.

In the case of the unit illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the base and center spacing panel arrangement has been designed to accommodate a ten-tube pack and, for such a unit, six bulbs may be located in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, leaving four additional openings in the spacing panel unoccupied.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention7 we locate four more bulbs in an inverted position such that the relatively small neck portions of these latter bulbs are caused to project downwardly through the panel openings and extend into close proximity to the notched-surfaces 16, 18, 20 and 22 of the spacing cleats 12 and 14 respectively. Two of these inverted bulbs have been shown in Fig. 4 and are indicated by the numerals 40 and 41. Upon the inverted bulbs are next positioned four more bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44, and 45. These enclosures rest upon the relatively large dome-shaped portions of the bulbs and occur with their lower edges spaced away from the center spacing panel 36, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It is pointed out that each bulb enclosure is, in this case, chosen of a size sutiiciently large to overlie an adjacent bulb of the lot first positioned on the pallet base. This arrangement takes advantage of the spacing between the bulb enclosures occurring as a result of the presence of the cleats 12 and 14. Such an arrangement also makes it possible to secure these upper bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44 and 45 against lateral displacement by applying a top closure or cover member having cleats corresponding in size and relative placement to the cleats 12 and 14.

To the assembly shown in Fig. 4 we then apply a special collapsible tubular body 46, which is illustrated in Fig. 5, and so designed that it may be opened and passed down over the entire unit in snugly fitted relationship with both the center spacing panel and the rabbeted edge 1l). The tubular body 46 is preferably constructed with two side wall panels of plywood and two end wall panels of plywood joined together by fibrous corner hinge elements as 43. The end walls are also constructed with interl mediate hinge elements as Sil which permit these end Walls to be folded inwardly so that the completely collapsed unit may take a position such as that shown in Fig. 8.

An important feature in the particular construction and arrangement of parts described resides in the fact that the side walls of the collapsible tubular body 46 slidably engage over adjacent surfaces of the bulb enclosures contacted and, as a result, the tubular body, in effect, cooperates with the spacing cleats 12 and 14 to lock the bulb enclosures in fixed relationship. Also, it will be observed that, since the center spacing panel is of the same size as the surface occurring within the rabbeted edge 10, edges of this center spacing panel must necessarily lie in sliding contact with the inner adjacent wall surfaces of the collapsible tubular body 46, and this produces a further locking effect with respect to the bulbs themselves.

The only remaining surfaces which are required to be held against displacement are the tops of the bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44 and 45, and, to take care of this, we provide the closure member or top, denoted by the arrow T and illustrated in Fig. 6. This member T is provided with three spacing cleats 52, 54, and 56, formed with notched surfaces 52a and 52h, 54a and 54h, and 56a and 56]). All of these notched surfaces need not necessarily be employed, depending upon how the bulb enclosures are arranged, but they may be made available and interchangeable with base cleats used in the base pallet of the container.

VIt will be seen that the cleats 52, 54 and 56, in any event, serve to lock the upper bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44 and 45 in fixed relationship and the notches 52a and 5211, at least, may be utilized to provide receptacles into which the extremities of the bulbs 30 and 31 project. Since the upper surfaces of these bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44 and 45 are arranged to occur flush with the top edges of the collapsible tube 46, it will be apparent that the top T, at points between the cleats S2, 54 and 56, as Well as at points outside of these cleats, will come to bear against the bulb enclosures 42, 43, 44 and 45 in snugly fitted relationship and will thus, in a closed position of the top, cooperate with the other container components to hold the center spacing panel 36 and the upper and lower tiers of bulbs in one compact unit which is resistant to shock and displacement in any direction.

It is pointed out that all of the parts thus described may be assembled and locked together without the use of any mechanical fastening elements and, therefore, may just as readily be knocked down when it may be desired to remove bulbs from the container.

As has been earlier discussed, it is `a definite objective of the invention to secure the container in condition for shipment and, yet, accomplish this inV such a way that the parts may be knocked down without having to remove staples, nails or other fastenings. We accomplish this by tightly securing the top T in its engaged position within the rectangular tubular body 46 by means of detachable spring holding devices, one of which has been illustrated in a partly detached position in Fig. 6. This holding element includes a spring body 60 at either end of which are loosely attached L-shaped hook portions 62 and 64 adapted to engage over :and lock with the constituent frame pieces 66, 68, 7i) and 72 which are attached to a plywood body portion 74, as may be better seen in Fig. 8.

These resilient holding members thus provide the necessary holding .force for maintaining the cover T in place with the rest of the container assembly and no other fastening means need be employed for shipping purposes. It will be apparent that the resilient holding members may be readily removed and again applied as desired for repeatedly reusing the packing case, as desired.

ln Fig. 8, we have illustrated a modified form of packing case construction which has been designed to provide a larger carrying capacity, such as, for example, a twentytube pack. In this form of shipping container, there are provided means for supporting four tiers of tube enclosures occurring one yabove another. The structure includes a pallet base 90 rabbeted to receive a collapsible tubular member 92 which has mounted therein bulbs 93 in bulb enclosures 94 retained by a center spacing panel 95. Spacing cleats are employed lof the type already described and upper spacing cleats as 97 are shown in Fig. 8 attached to a closure member 98. This closure member 98 has supported upon it a retaining frame 99 which extends around four sides of the top to receive a second packing case assembly similar in all respects to that just above described. The holding elements 100 and 101 are then engaged, as shown in Fig. 8, between top and bottom edges of the double unit to hold this member in solidly locked relationship.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that we have provided a rigid shock resistant packing case construction which is especially designed to receive and hold television bulbs in a protected position and, yet, the entire packing case lmay be knocked down into a compact unit, such as that shown in Fig. 8, without in any way damaging or otherwise impairing the panel elements, with the result that they may be used over again many times to materially lower the cost of such items.

While we have shown preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that changes and moditications may be made in keeping with the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a shipping container for packaging bulbs of the type employed in television tubes, the combination of a tubular body portion, a pallet base formed with a rabbeted edge for detachably receiving the tubular body portion thereon, a top cover member similarly rabbeted and detachably led into the said tubular body at the upper end thereof, a plurality of spacing cleats mounted on the `said pallet base and top cover member and extending from edge to edge thereof, 'a plurality of shock resistant bulb enclosures for receiving bulbs and engaging around the bottom and sides of each bulb in a protective manner, said enclosures having outer wall portions lying between adjacent surfaces of the tubular body and the bulbs to constitute cushioning layers, said enclosures being locked between the spacing cleats and the tubular body to support the tubes against lateral displacement, a center spacing panelhaving openings formed therethrough for receiving neck portions of the bulbs in opposed relationship, said center spacing panel having its edges extending into contact with the inner surfaces of the tubular body lat intermediate points thereon, and said bulb enclosures, tubular body and center spacing panel cooperating to rigidly house the bulbs in ixed cushioned relationship to one another.

2. In a reusable shipping container construction for packaging bulbs of the type employed in television tubes, la tubular body portion, a pallet base formed with a rabbeted edge fory detachably receiving the tubular body portion thereon, a top detachably tted into the said tubular body at the opposite end thereof, la plurality of spacing cleats mounted on the said pallet base and top, a plurality of bulb enclosures for receiving bulbs and engaging around the bottom end sides of. each bulb, said bulb enclosures having outer Wall portions lying between adjacent surfaces of the tubular body and the bulbs to constitute cushioning means, said enclosures being locked between the cleats and the tubular body to support the tubes against lateral displacement, a center spacing panel having openings formed therethrough for receiving portions of the bulbs in opposed relationship and'said bulb enclosures, tubular body and center panel cooperating to rigidly hold the bulbs in spaced cushioned relationship to inner wall surfaces of the packing case, and said spacing cleats `being located distances apart from one another so chosen that the bulb enclosures are slidably received between the cleats and adjacent wall portions of the collapsible tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES .PATENTS 428,331 Campbell May 20, 1890 757,591 Anthony Apr. 19, 1904 949,619 Burch Feb. l5, 1910 1,636,607 Horton July 19, 1927 1,982,785 Buhrmaster Dec. 4, 1934 2,042,446 Ferguson May 26, 1936 2,240,256 Elmendorf Apr. 29, 1941 2,549,509 Munroe Apr. 17, 1951 2,665,026 Katzman Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,263 Australia July 14, 1930 

